Remembering the Berkeley balcony tragedy: 10 years on
Today marks 10 years since the devastating balcony collapse in Berkeley, California, that claimed the lives of six young people and left many others seriously injured.
On June 16, 2015, shortly after midnight, a number of Irish J-1 visa students – Lorcán Miller, Eimear Walsh, Niccolai Schuster, Eoghan Culligan, and cousins Olivia Burke and Ashley Donohoe – were celebrating a 21st birthday party when the fifth-floor balcony they were standing on suddenly gave way.
The tragedy shocked communities on both sides of the Atlantic. (Top row – left to right) Eoghan Culligan, Olivia Burke and Niccolai Schuster
(Bottom row – left to right) Ashley Donohoe, Lorcan Miller and Eimear Walsh.
Among the injured was Aoife Beary, from Blackrock in South Dublin, who survived the collapse but tragically passed away in 2022 at the age of 27 due to complications related to her injuries.
Aoife dedicated herself to campaigning for stricter building safety laws in California, pushing for greater transparency from construction companies about their safety records and legal claims. Her courage and advocacy have left a lasting legacy in the fight for safer housing.
Aoife once told California legislators that the friends lost that night had travelled the world together and were excited to spend their summer in California. They were celebrating her birthday when the tragedy struck. 'Now my birthday will always be their anniversary,' she said poignantly. Aoife Beary.
The incident prompted a criminal investigation by Alameda County's district attorney and raised serious questions about building regulations, as the company responsible for the balcony had a history of legal claims that were not disclosed to state regulators.
The memories of Lorcán, Eimear, Niccolai, Eoghan, Olivia, Ashley and Aoife stand as a solemn reminder of lives tragically cut short.
This anniversary highlights the critical need for robust building safety standards, recognises the strength of those affected, and reinforces the ongoing duty to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.
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